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ABC News
ABC News
National

DARK SECRETS: Queen bee breeder doing big business as varroa mite outbreak impacts hives | Rare Historical Photos

Imagine if you could determine the fate of your infant daughter's future as worker caste or queen, simply by changing what you feed them as a baby.

Queen bee breeder Michael Kiem has built a successful business by capitalising on the fact that diet is transformative for female honey bees and express posting his little livestock across Australia's eastern seaboard.

"They'll feed her a different diet, but they start off exactly the same as a worker," Mr Kiem said.

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